Southern California -- this just in

The leaders of California’s three public college and university systems made a rare joint appearance at a legislative hearing to urge that the state restore enough funding to maintain the nearly 50-year-old master plan for higher education.

This year’s cuts in education spending are causing so much overcrowding and enrollment limits that the master plan’s goals of a low-cost, accessible college education for all qualified students is in jeopardy, they said.

University of California President Mark G. Yudof, Cal State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed and California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott testified in Sacramento on Monday, appearing before a joint Assembly-Senate committee that is reviewing the master plan.

That 1960 plan set up different functions, admission guidelines and priorities for the three systems as a framework to produce a well-educated workforce in California.

Scott, in an interview, noted that 95% of community college classes across the state are filled to capacity and that many students are on waiting lists. “The way the state is going, we are almost denying the master plan,” he said.

-- Larry Gordon

Photo: Students march last month in front of UCLA's Covel Commons, where UC regents voted on a fee increase. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times